The One That Is Trying To Kill Me

We are having a baby!

  A really mean and sadistic baby, that is trying to slowly kill me.

I know I've already made the big announcement, so much of this post will be anti-climatic.
 Mostly just a little journaling for me, and my growing family.

I found out I was pregnant at the end of January.  It was not too big of a surprise, since we had talked it over for some time and knew we wanted to try to have a baby in 2011. I just didn't think Heavenly Father would take that date so literally....  I am pretty sure we conceived January 1.  (Is that to much information??? Ha ha ha.)  Jason was out of town in Utah when I found out, and even though I was dying to tell him, I had to wait and tell him face to face.  I told him I was pregnant with Clark over the phone, and regretted it ever since.

Clark and I drew this little sign to take to the airport and surprise him.  Clark was so excited to tell him about the new baby, although I suspect much of the actual meaning of the surprise was over his little curly head.  As our luck would have it Jason's plane arrived early, and instead of ambushing him inside, he was waiting for us.  Which meant he had to read the sign in the dark car, and completely missed what it said.  I had to redirect him to it twice, and tell him to read it all, carefully.  He was so happy and excited.  A little shocked, and then of course he couldn't hide his manly pride of having made another baby.  Jason stated immediately that it was a girl, he was sure of it this time.  However, I like to remind him that he thought both Clark and Harry were girls, even though I told him over and over Harry was a boy (I knew right away with that one).

I was sick almost immediately.  With Clark and Harry I had a few bad days, mostly through the 2nd and 3rd months.  I don't remember it ever being as bad as this pregnancy has been.  Starting around week 5, I couldn't eat anything, and if I did, I just barfed it up. Everything.  After a while I couldn't even drink anymore.  It would take me an hour to gag down a glass of water, only to barf it up minutes later.  I tried sipping soda, cold tea, ice water... anything and everything, and nothing would stay down.  I was sure it was all in my mind, and I was embarrassed for feeling so sick, so soon.  Finally one day, when I was about 7 weeks along, Jason dragged me to the doctor.  She told me leave and go straight to the ER, I was severely dehydrated.  I spent the next several hours being pumped full of fluids and meds.  They checked the baby while I was there, and much to my relief it was doing fine, heart beat and all.  They sent me home and I was great for about a week.  They gave me Zofran and Phenergan, and even though I didn't like the side effects, at least I could eat and drink again.  Then slowly I started getting sicker and sicker.  Dizzy, headaches, unable to eat anything again, then drink anything.  I tried to get into the doctors again, but the wait was so long for my Ob-Gyn.  I kept on thinking I was crazy, how could I honestly be THIS sick, it must all be in my head.  We were canceling everything, school, Harry's therapy appointments, church, playgroups.  I just laid on the couch, trying not to move, trying not to barf... trying not to cry.  I had lost about 18 lbs by this point -which is not that outstanding considering how over weight I am.  It wasn't long before Jason forced me to go to the ER again. Once again, severely dehydrated.  I was sure they were going to tell me I lost the baby, positive they weren't going to find a heartbeat.  But everything was normal, she was growing quite nicely, and the heartbeat was really strong.  The doctor did diagnose me with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which is just a fancy word for "pregnant lady who can't stop barfing".  Ok, so I wasn't totally crazy, and this wasn't normal "morning sickness"... but I still needed to be able to take care of myself, my family, and the tiny mean baby growing inside of me.  

I got more meds, and the ER doctor helped me to get into my Ob-Gyn sooner.  My new doctor is fantastic.  Best one I have ever gone to.  She did a really thorough exam, gave me more than enough meds and help.  I'm starting to feel more like my normal self, albeit pregnant and tired... but thankfully  not barfing.  As of now,  I am 15 weeks, and I haven't had to take any medicine in 3 whole days, and I am still eating, and drinking.  This baby has sure done quite a number on me.  We don't call her anything but Mean Baby... and yes you heard that right,  I do think it is a HER this time (even though I am trying not to get my hopes up).  We are going to have to think of another nickname, since I am sure she won't appreciate being called Mean Baby :)
I'm so thankful the baby is healthy, and I'm glad we have made it this far.  These past 10 weeks have been really rough on me, and the whole family.  I pray everyday that everything with the baby will turn out fine and normal, and that I don't get sick again... I read that most women who suffer from Hypermesis Gravidarum will be sick off and on through out  their entire pregnancy, I hope I am part of the other half who doesn't.  I will never take my health for granted ever again.

I'm so excited to be having another baby, so excited and nervous!!

Wordless Wednesday, with a few words- Spring is coming!

Spring is coming... or at least it is trying to.

The weather here has been such a roller coaster, 80's one day, 30's the next.
It even almost snowed a little yesterday.

I took these pictures in Jamestown last week (March 25).  I love seeing the trees and flowers start to bloom.  It is such a refreshing view, from the dead and bare trees, and brown ground everywhere.

This winter has been pretty rough on all of us... It was fun and so different at the beginning, but we were definitely spoiled after our time and Hawaii, and the lack of sun is getting us down.

But, Spring is coming, or at least it's trying to... it's right around the corner.  This week it should get in the 60's again, and hopefully next week it will be even warmer.

Vegetables!

January 18, 2011- Months and months ago, I've been lazy.

Harry covered in pasta sauce.

Harry making a huge mess... 

Totally worth it though, since the pasta I made was filled with veggies, and he ate them all!

 Every single one! And the sausage along with it.

Harry is my pickiest eater, for months all I could get him to eat was pretzels and nuggets.  Lately he has been doing much better.  He will eat chicken, even if it is not deep fried in batter, as long as I smother it in barbecue sauce.  He eats veggies if I cook them in pasta or baked ziti.  He eats hot dogs, and sometimes even cheese.  Still not the most balanced diet, but we are getting there.  Last night he ate every single thing on his plate, homemade mac and cheese, baked chicken and a roll (he never! eats bread).  I'm not sure what has changed.  Maybe it's because I don't let him snack as much, and I do feed him much smaller portions of his favorite foods.  We have also switched him from drinking whole milk to skim milk, and now even to Almond milk (to see if maybe it would help with some of his sensory issues, and Autism- its not really).  Not sure... maybe it is just time, and continually putting food in front of his face.  Either way I am happy with the change, however small, and I hope and pray he keeps it up.

He makes me laugh, he has the cutest expressions sometimes.

Flashback Friday- Jason in the Honor Guard

What??? She's blogging again? I AM!

Well, I am trying, and I figure I gotta start somewhere.  

Why not start with some cool old pictures from when Jason was in the Honor Guard,

the first time we lived in Virginia 2001-2004.

This is Jason marching in some parade (I don't remember which).  We were down in Ocean City, Maryland.  I remember it was so hot, and I felt so bad that he had to wear his big stuffy uniform.

Right after the parade, I was making the boys pose for pictures.

 This one is from Jason's friend.  I'm not sure when it was taken, but they are at Arlington Cemetery for a funeral.  I think he looks so serious in this picture.  It must have been hard to be at the funerals, to not show any emotion, I heard some were pretty sad and emotional.

I know Jay loved that he got to serve in the Honor Guard.  It was such a fun and special experience for both of us, a great way to start our Coast Guard lives.

Toddlers

We're genetically wired to think everything our toddlers do is amazing;

 otherwise we wouldn't want to keep them.

This is my life right now.  Busy and stressful.  

Not to mention a new baby that we are expecting, 

that I suspect is trying to kill me.

I promise to get back to blogging soon, I have so much to share.

All of it very interesting...well to me, and the Grandmas :)

Flashback Friday- I miss Hawaii

January 22, 2010

Can you believe this is where we were a year ago today?

Walking the beaches, in the winter, just because we could.

I wish we had a couple grand lying around so we could hop on a plane with the boys,

 and enjoy the beach again.  Enjoy the bright sun, and warm breeze. 

 I know they would both be so excited.  Clark doesn't talk about it, but I know he misses certain things about Hawaii.  Sometimes when he gets on his bus for school, he seems disappointed, looking for his other school friends. And he always get so excited when he sees the ocean, he is my little water baby.

As much as I am loving having a real winter here in Virginia, with snow and cold rain,

it is hard being stuck inside so much.  We are not used to it.

I never thought I would be one of those people begging for Summer to come, and complaining about the cold weather, but I am counting down the days until Spring.

So we can go back to the beach.

The Ribbon

Right before New Years our friends from Northern Virginia came down to spend the weekend.

We love hanging out with the Pomeroy's, and Clark adores their oldest Taryn.

It was a fun night of Rockband, and the kids running around playing.  We always have so much fun, and get so busy talking, that I never remember to take pictures :(

When they were loading up to leave the next day, Clark was heartbroken and crying.

He ran to the car window to say goodbye to Taryn, and being the little sweetie that she is, she gave him this little blue ribbon.  At first Clark didn't know what to do with it, so he just carried it around talking about his friend, and his "bee-yu" (which is what he called the blue ribbon).  Finally, I tied it around his wrist so it wouldn't get lost.  He cried when it got wet in the shower.  He cried when his sleeves were too long, and he could see it, or show it off properly.  He loved his "bee-yu" ribbon.  I finally convinced him to take it off, 4 days later, and now it is safety tucked away with his favorite R2D2.

What a tender little heart he has.  He can be so sentimental sometimes.  I love watching his eyes tears up during a sad part in a movie, or when he notices someone is sad.  I love that he is not all boy, wild and crazy all the time, I love his sensitive side.  My favorite time with Clark is hanging out in our big chair, reading a book or watching a show, he always leans his head against my shoulder and links his arm through mine.  Very tender indeed.  It's these quiet, sweet, tender moments with Clark that help me get through the days when he pees on the floor -just cause he feels like it, or flicks a spoonful of mac and cheese on the wall.  

I sure love my Big Tuna.

Flashback Friday- Deimler Family

Yesterday my Gramps emailed me some old family pictures.  Aren't they great?!

I think they were taken around 1987.

 This was our old house in Goodyear, Arizona.  

I loved our little twin palm trees.  By the time our family move away, in 1994, they were so tall.  

I can't get over how much BJ reminds me of Harry, all chubby and cute.

I love this picture.  Left to right, Emma, BJ and April (Me).

If I was guessing, I would say Emma is pouting because she was sad Gramps and Granny were leaving. It was (and still is) always so hard to say goodbye to our grandparents.  I still cry when we leave their house after a vacation, and I am 30 years old.  BJ is so huge, and once again totally reminds me so much of Harry, especially the no pants part, lol.  And there is my always cheesy smile, that never went away did it :)

Freedom!!

We are pacifier free!!!

Harry has been without his for 2 whole days now.

The last couple nights have been a little rough, it takes him so much longer to go to sleep now.

(But, he pretty much has insomnia 80% of the time anyways, so I am used to it.)

I am proud of my little guy.  He is growing up so fast.

Wordless Wednesday-Quiet Time With Harry

This is why I love Harry.

You know that moment of terror, when you realize the kids are being too quiet...

When you try to remember the last time they stormed through the room, or you asked you for something.

I hate those moments. 

They are normally followed by me sending Clark to time out, 
and cleaning up some ridiculous mess, while silently crying to myself.  

But NOT with Harry!

He is never doing anything naughty.  Never.

He is such a good little boy.

Sure, he does bad things, like biting kids in nursery, or trying to climb on the stove to take all the burners apart.  But never those crazy type Clark messes, like poop on the walls, or baby powder everywhere.

Mostly I just find him quietly reading his books.

Today after my workout (yes, you heard that right, a workout) I found that he put himself to sleep, in his bed, all cuddled up with his blankies.  

Sometimes it makes me sad that he is so independent, he hardly acts like he needs me -or even likes me.  Its just his age, I guess.  I mean, I know he needs me, who else is going to wash his sippy cup, and reach the pretzels for him.  I just can't wait for him to love me, or even just like me a lot.

 But how cute is it that he just loves to read all day.  

I love that he loves to read, I love it so much!!!

ps. Oh, I forgot.  Harry does like to do one very naughty thing.  He pulls all my books from the shelf, and bends the pages.  Two shelves of paperback books, all over the floor, 499 times a day.  Some days I don't even bother picking them up, because I know in 30 seconds he is just going to do it all again.  Bad Harry!

Cookie Robots

Making Cookie Robots with Clark.

We've been watching a lot of Despicable Me lately, thanks to Daddy.
I don't mind, it is a really cute movie, and I needed a break from the sob-fest that is Toy Story 3.
(You would think I could stop crying, after the 12th viewing, but that movie gets me every time.  Every. Time.)
In the movie -Despicable Me, Gru makes cookie robots, so he can break into Vector's house.
Well, as you can imagine, Clark is all about cookie robots.  They are two of his favorite things, cookies plus robots, how can it get better than that.  He was so excited to make cookie robots with me.

(Here is where someone would normally post the picture of the finished cookies, but I am so forgetful lately.)
They turned out very tasty, if I must say so myself.

How to make Cookie Robots:
-Follow the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie recipe.
We like to use mini chocolate chips instead of the regular size, and sometimes mini m&ms too.
-Make A LOT of boo-bop and beeping sounds when you are adding the ingredients, and doing the mixing.
-Pretend to throw in some screws and bolts, or any other mechanical looking things.
-Bake at 375, for about 10 minutes.
And there you have it, Cookie Robots.

If I was a really good Mom (read- NOT lazy), I am sure I could find something that really looked like little cookie robots, and Clark and I could make those together.  But this was good enough for now, he and I had a lot of fun, and that's all I care about.